Birchat Ha'ilanot: Difference between revisions

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# Preferably, one should say Birkat HaIlanot the first time one sees a budding tree in Nissan, however, if one didn't one may still say Birchat HaIlanot even if one already saw a budding tree and didn’t make the Bracha the first. <Ref>Halichot Shlomo (vol 1, 2:5), Chazon Ovadyah (Pesach pg 24), Nitai Gavriel (Pesach 6:9) </ref>
# Preferably, one should say Birkat HaIlanot the first time one sees a budding tree in Nissan, however, if one didn't one may still say Birchat HaIlanot even if one already saw a budding tree and didn’t make the Bracha the first. <Ref>Halichot Shlomo (vol 1, 2:5), Chazon Ovadyah (Pesach pg 24), Nitai Gavriel (Pesach 6:9) </ref>
# If the tree's bud matured into fruits one may no longer make the Bracha however if some of the fruit begin to grow and some flowers and buds remain one may still say the Bracha. <ref>Chazon Ovadyah (Pesach pg 26-7). This is also implied by Mishna Brurah 226:4. </ref>
# If the tree's bud matured into fruits one may no longer make the Bracha however if some of the fruit begin to grow and some flowers and buds remain one may still say the Bracha. <ref>Chazon Ovadyah (Pesach pg 26-7). This is also implied by Mishna Brurah 226:4. </ref>
# One may say Birchat HaIlanot even on Shabbat, yet it's preferable to make it during the week if one won't miss out on making it. <ref> Chazon Ovadyah (Pesach pg 20), Nitai Gavriel (Pesach 6:9) </ref>
# One may say Birchat HaIlanot even on [[Shabbat]], yet it's preferable to make it during the week if one won't miss out on making it. <ref> Chazon Ovadyah (Pesach pg 20), Nitai Gavriel (Pesach 6:9) </ref>
# One may say Birchat HaIlanot even at night if there's light and one can distinguish trees that are blooming. <ref>Chazon Ovadyah (Pesach pg 11), Tzitz Eliezer 12:20(6) </ref>
# One may say Birchat HaIlanot even at night if there's light and one can distinguish trees that are blooming. <ref>Chazon Ovadyah (Pesach pg 11), Tzitz Eliezer 12:20(6) </ref>
# In Australia, where the trees bud in Elul and Tishrei one should say Birkat Ilanot then.<ref>Nitai Gavriel (Pesach 6:17) </ref>
# In Australia, where the trees bud in Elul and Tishrei one should say Birkat Ilanot then.<ref>Nitai Gavriel (Pesach 6:17) </ref>

Revision as of 14:21, 4 March 2012

During the month of Nissan, as spring approaches, we can recite Birkat Ha'ilanot which is special bracha for seeing fruit trees in blossom and can only be made once a year.

A peach tree in blossom

Which trees are fit?

  1. It’s permissible to make a Bracha on a tree that was planted or guarded during Shemitta year. [1]
  2. It's permissible to make a Bracha on a tree that is within 3 years of being planted even though it is considered Orlah. [2]
  3. One should not make the Bracha on a tree which was made from grafting two species, however, there is what to rely on to make the Bracha. [3]
  4. One should only make the Bracha on a fruit tree and not a barren tree. [4]However, if one did make a Bracha on a barren tree one shouldn't make another Bracha upon seeing a free tree.[5]

Who's obligated?

  1. Woman may say the Bracha of Birkat Ilanot. [6]

Timing

  1. It's preferable to say the Birchat Hailanot in Nissan, however, if one didn't make the bracha yet, one may make it even after Nissan, and after the fact one may also make the bracha before Nissan. [7] Nonetheless, in places that the trees bud in Adar one may make the bracha in Adar. [8]
  2. Preferably, one should say Birkat HaIlanot the first time one sees a budding tree in Nissan, however, if one didn't one may still say Birchat HaIlanot even if one already saw a budding tree and didn’t make the Bracha the first. [9]
  3. If the tree's bud matured into fruits one may no longer make the Bracha however if some of the fruit begin to grow and some flowers and buds remain one may still say the Bracha. [10]
  4. One may say Birchat HaIlanot even on Shabbat, yet it's preferable to make it during the week if one won't miss out on making it. [11]
  5. One may say Birchat HaIlanot even at night if there's light and one can distinguish trees that are blooming. [12]
  6. In Australia, where the trees bud in Elul and Tishrei one should say Birkat Ilanot then.[13]

Procedure

  1. It's preferable to gather a minyan (10 people) in order to make the Bracha of Birkat Hailanot. [14]
  2. It's better for one person to say the Bracha out loud and everyone else to say it quietly to themselves. [15]
  3. A blind person can't make Birkat HaIlanot however it's proper to listen to the Shaliach Tzibbur make the Bracha. [16]
  4. One may make the Bracha even if one sees the tree through glasses and even sunglasses.[17]

How many trees?

  1. One should only make the Brahca upon seeing two fruit trees. [18] However, some argue that one may make the Bracha even on one tree. [19]
  2. It's sufficient to have two trees of the same type but it's preferable to have trees of different types. [20]

References

  1. Halichot Shlomo (vol 1, 2:4)
  2. Chazon Ovadyah (Pesach pg 19)
  3. Chazon Ovadyah (Pesach pg 15), Nitai Gavriel (Pesach 6:13)
  4. Mishna Brurah 226:2
  5. Chazon Ovadyah (Pesach pg 13)
  6. Yalkut Yosef (Kitzur S"A 226:2), Chazon Ovadyah (Pesach pg 10), Nitai Gavriel (Pesach 7:6)
  7. The gemara Brachot 43b writes that one who sees the budding of trees in Nissan should make the Brichat Hailanot. Many Rishonim (including Ritva Rosh Hashana 11a, Sefer Eshkol pg 68) comment that this bracha is commonly made in Nissan but doesn't have to be. So rules the Mishna Brurah 226:1 that the bracha may be made in months other than Nissan. Rav Ovadyah Yosef in Sh"t Yechava Daat 1:1 and Chazon Ovadyah (pg 25) argues that it should be made starting in Nissan (and not Adar to be strict for the opinions of the Halachot Ketanot 2:28 and Chida in Birkei Yosef 226:2) and if one didn't see it, one should still say it in Iyar. Nitai Gavriel (Peasch 6:2) writes that it should be said in Nissan.
  8. Chazon Ovadyah (pg 28), Mishna Brurah 226:1
  9. Halichot Shlomo (vol 1, 2:5), Chazon Ovadyah (Pesach pg 24), Nitai Gavriel (Pesach 6:9)
  10. Chazon Ovadyah (Pesach pg 26-7). This is also implied by Mishna Brurah 226:4.
  11. Chazon Ovadyah (Pesach pg 20), Nitai Gavriel (Pesach 6:9)
  12. Chazon Ovadyah (Pesach pg 11), Tzitz Eliezer 12:20(6)
  13. Nitai Gavriel (Pesach 6:17)
  14. Chazon Ovadyah (Pesach pg 12), Nitai Gavriel (Pesach 6:14)
  15. Chazon Ovadyah (Pesach pg 12)
  16. Chazon Ovadyah (Pesach pg 28)
  17. Chazon Ovadyah (Pesach pg 29)
  18. Chazon Ovadyah (Pesach pg 13-5 note 9), Sh"t Tzitz Eliezer 12:20(6)
  19. Nitai Gavriel (Pesach 6:11) writes that according to the strict law one may make Birkat Ilanot on one tree.
  20. Chazon Ovadyah (pesach pg 14)